Weight-loss, or bariatric, surgery can save your live if you suffer from morbid obesity. But paying for the surgery may be as big a challenge as losing weight has been. There are several avenues you can follow to pay for your surgery, but all boil down to one of two primary methods: either having it covered by insurance or paying for it directly by yourself or with the help of friends and family.
Step 1
Get all relevant information from your doctor ahead of time about what will be charged for any necessary procedures.
Step 2
Contact your health insurer to find out which procedures are and are not covered. Most health insurance companies will not cover bariatric surgery at all, according to Insure.com. Some of the initial diagnostic tests may be covered, whereas the actual surgery may not be.
Step 3
Ask anyway, and find out which of the different bariatric surgeries are covered by your insurance company. Some of the newer surgeries may not be accepted, but several of the older procedures might be and your insurer can tell you when you call. According to Insure.com, four states (Georgia, Indiana, Maryland and Virginia) are mandated to cover bariatric surgery on large group policies. You'll have to ask your employer what kind of coverage they carry.
Step 4
Submit all your paperwork to the insurance company and get ready to jump though hoops, says the Bariatric Edge website. Include all histories and health tests you have been given. Be thorough and complete to save yourself time.
Step 5
Ask your doctor to write a letter of medical necessity to support your claim, letting the insurer know this is not a frivolous surgery on your part.
Step 6
Appeal if you are turned down, recommends the the Bariatric Edge website. Ask your doctor to get involved and contact the insurance company to see if there is some way they will accept your request for coverage, even if only on part of the procedure.
Step 7
Pay for the surgery yourself, or ask friends and family if they can help.
Step 8
Ask for donations from your church, or seek other charitable funds from groups that may offer monies for health-related procedures.
Step 9
Use plastic, and charge the surgery on your credit card. Additionally, consider taking out a bank loan or other personal loan to pay for your surgery.
Step 10
Negotiate the final price of the surgery with your doctor, and arrange for a payment plan if he will work with you.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't take no for an answer. Your life is at stake if you need bariatric surgery, and it's up to you to investigate all possibilities for raising the money if insurance won't cover it.
- The suggestions offered here are for educational purposes and are not meant to take the place of medical advice.
Things You'll Need
- Insurance carrier application
- Medical records
- Letter of medical necessity
Member Comments